Ukraine War Update: Here is a pulse check on the latest news from a war that seems to have no end.
Witkoff in Russia
U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg on Wednesday. On Tuesday, he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European diplomats in Norway.
Putin at Women’s Forum Creative Commons Photo
Putin in 2025 Government Meeting Creative Commons Photo
“It’s taking far longer than Putin anticipated,” New York Times correspondent Anton Troianovski told the newspaper. “But he’s always been convinced that it’s only a matter of time until Western unity on Ukraine splinters.”
Sanctions Relief Before a Settlement
Trump’s October 16 executive order waived sanctions, restrictions, and tariffs under the Graham Act, legislation he signed in September.
“I am hereby waiving the application of such sanctions, restrictions, and duties provided for in the Graham Act,” the order stated, citing the “national interests of the United States.”
Russian investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev called the waiver “a truly historic moment.” Zelenskyy said: “It definitely helps only the Russians.”
Republicans in the Senate have joined Democrats in opposing Trump’s separate deal on Russian diesel.
Trump wants to bring fuel prices down before the November 3 midterm elections.
“This deal is a gift to our adversary and a betrayal of our Allies; it should be rescinded,” senators including Richard Blumenthal and Mitch McConnell wrote in an October 13 letter.
Trump Administration: We Get ‘Good Deals’
Trump later said Russian diesel would enter global markets rather than be shipped directly to the United States, Reuters reported Wednesday.
White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers defended the agreement: “President Trump continues to secure good deals, not just for the United States, but for the world.”
According to The Times, Trump’s representatives also want bigger European purchases of Russian gas under a hypothetical peace settlement.
On Wednesday, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reaffirmed her firm opposition to easing energy sanctions on Russia.
“These sanctions will remain in place until Russia ends the war,” she said. “Russia is not a reliable energy supplier.”
Other European politicians favor a different course. Germany’s Alice Weidel said sanctions were “ruining our own economy.” At the same time, France’s Marine Le Pen accused the EU of leading “an energy war against Russia, when we haven’t got any energy,” according to the Times.
Slovakia will resume intergovernmental consultations with Russia on October 26.
“The Slovak side is also interested in discussing gas supplies and continuation of oil supplies,” its Foreign Ministry said.
EU Warns Against Return to Russian Gas Dependence
Under EU law, long-term contracts for Russian LNG imports will end on January 1, 2027. A ban on Russian pipeline gas will take effect in the coming months.
“Restoring large gas flows to Europe would require more than a political agreement between Washington and Moscow,” energy researchers Anne-Sophie Corbeau and Tatiana Mitrova wrote in an October 20 Columbia University analysis.
The researchers cited EU import rules, Nord Stream 2’s certification requirements, and legal claims against Gazprom. They also warned that higher Russian gas exports would compete with U.S. LNG.
Earlier this month, European leaders welcomed a deal to release €6.6 billion in military aid through the European Peace Facility.
“Borders must not be changed by force, the aggressor cannot be rewarded, and Ukraine’s long-term security and ability to defend itself must be guaranteed,” their conclusions stated.
Kyiv Wants a Freeze and Security Guarantees
Witkoff told Putin he wanted to discuss “the resumption potentially of trilateral talks between Ukraine and Russia and the United States.” He described “some degree of momentum” following Oslo.
Russia still seeks control of the entire Donetsk region and exclusion of Ukraine from NATO, Reuters reported.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb said the Oslo discussions “made genuine progress,” the Associated Press reported.
“Ukraine has to want to settle this war,” Trump said Tuesday.
Zelenskyy told Fox News Wednesday, “It’s important to negotiate trilaterally.” He said European countries should join the talks and that Ukraine needed security guarantees.
Tensions spiked between the U.S. and Ukraine in recent days, following issues with Starlink intelligence sharing amid Trump’s criticism of Kyiv’s strikes on Russian energy sites.
Zelenskyy thanked Washington for resuming intelligence sharing. He said he hoped restrictions on Starlink and Starshield satellite services would be lifted soon.
Ukrainian police said two people were killed when a Russian drone hit an apartment building in Kyiv overnight. Officials also reported strikes on power facilities in four regions.
“Right now, we have to freeze,” Zelenskyy said. He made the comment in a Fox News interview, where he said he was open to freezing the current war where it is.
About the Author: Georgia Gilholy
Georgia Gilholy is a journalist based in the United Kingdom who has been published in Newsweek, The Times of Israel, and the Spectator. Gilholy writes about international politics, culture, and education.
